Mohammad Ashraful came onto the scene without much hype. Unlike other batsman such as Nafis Iqbal who were the talk of the town even before any international matches, it is Ashraful who is undoubtedly our star batsman. This is not to say that he is there yet, but he is at present the closest of any Bangladeshi batsman. He is our Little Maestro, our Master Blaster. While nowhere near the calibre of Sachin Tendulkar, Ashraful has had far fewer resources to aid him.

Ashraful burst onto the scene in late 2001 as another spin bowler on the test squad in Sri Lanka. Batting way down in the order at number 6 or 7, the dimunitive 17 year old (some say he was only 16) may have surprised many by making a helpful 26 runs in the first innings. In fact, if some of our openers managed that many we would be quite proud. However, Bangladesh was to find itself in the record books, and oddly enough it was going to be a record to be proud of. Ashraful became the youngest test centurion with a superb 114. During his innings he repeatedly smashed Sri Lanka's world class Murali to the ropes.

The aftermath of this feat was not so bright. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, Ashraful, like so many before him and so many after, left fans scratching their heads. Was this some kind of cruel cricket joke? Was Bangladesh only to achieve moments of happiness a few times a decade? Ashraful's stats were on the better side for Bangladesh yet still nowhere near the top in terms of international standard. Finally, under the wisdom of Dav Whatmore, Ashraful was dropped from the squad during the home series one year ago against England.

Making his return this past February, Ashraful began to show the first glimpses of his enormous potential. Its rather like a business man who finally starts to get returns on a seemingly great investment. A mature innings of 98, while dissappointing for the century that wasn't, still showed that Ashraful was a batsman's batsman. Following up with big performances in every test series he has played in since shows that he is reaching his potential at last. Perhaps a year from now, the world will realize this young talent for what he is. It all depends on Ashraful himself.

Here are some stats for those who think Ashraful, far from being a world class batsman (I admit he's not there yet) isn't even Bangladesh's best batsman.

Most people consider Habibul Bashar to be our best Test batsman citing his 3 centuries and solid average of 35.84 runs. While I fully agree, Ashraful has more potential and at only 20, has more years. Furthermore, while his Test batting average is only in the low 20s, since being dropped, he is averaging around 33 runs per innings. He also has 3 50s in 8 innings. Whereas, he had 3 fifties in his previous nearly 40 innings or so. With Bashar, and Rajin Saleh in the middle order, Ashraful really has a chance to shine in Tests. And of course he is one of the few Batsmen who can score a decent pace in the one day game.

Mohammad Ashraful is the only Bangladesh batsmen who is currently in form in both ODIs and Tests. This is nothing other than a good omen. Our sincere hope is that Nafis Iqbal follows in Ashraful's footsteps albeit a little bit faster.

ashraful is our regular batsman now. he is not as great as shumon yet but he has the potentials to be. i think he is improveing and a future of bangladesh. if he works hard he will be the our sachine tandukar.

You're all talking about the future - the potential, the talent he has.

Wheras, when I first looked at this thread, I thought that you'd say (all of you) something about the present, like the 2nd test match against New Zealand.

With the official report confirmed (as per Bangladesher Khela so far) that Habibul Bashar won't be able to play as its not safe for him to play in the 2nd test, I'm very much dependent upon Ashraful to play a few big innings in the 2nd test and also during the ODI series - longer than the 67 runs that he scored in the 1st innings in the 1st test.

You see, with Habibul Bashar gone, and the only other player of their calibre - Nafees Iqbal so inexperienced in terms of International experience, the only other batsman that I look towards to, is Mohammad Ashraful.

I am looking at the present situation and hoping for a few big knocks from him because Sanwar Hossain, who has a top score of only about 40 odd runs (if I'm right) in Test cricket, it is against the New Zealanders. Also, Khaled Mahmud, who also has his top score in Test cricket against the New Zealanders (its a coincendence that both of their top score is 45 or 44), it is quite evident that we should play against them better than we have shown today.

And without Habibul Bashar, who else can lead the Bangladesh batting? Yes, Khaled Mashud can be the captain, or Rajin Saleh can be vice captain and play a supporting role with the bat, but it is Ashraful, who has to lead from the front.

Without Habibul Bashar, there's so much responsibility that lie on the shoulders of young Ashraful! I wish he did not have this much responsibility on his shoulders at this young age, but WE SIMPLY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

I was kinda hoping that without Bashar, Javed Omar would be the one to take the leading role in batting, since he is the most experienced specialist batsman in our line-up, but the way that he had played in the 1st test, I can't be so hopeful about him anymore.

I was also kinda hoping that Mashud would at least try to be the leading batsman in the absence of Habibul Bashar, and with his newly-gained captaincy, but in the 2nd innings, he has failed to show the guts that was required from him.

And there is no one else established enough to play the key role in the batting department.

So, its Ashraful who has to again take the responsibility of the whole batting of Bangladesh once more, just like in the 1st test.

Yes,Bashar is not playing in 2nd test so the preasure goes on Ash.When any player is 19-21 they start their cricket carrier they get support from seniors so they can play without any preasure.If u look ashraful then the seniors depends on him.He has a good future.He is really unlucky that he did not get any seniors who can support him.

ashraful is getting better. inshallah we will be a star batsman in the future. everyone has bad days i am sure ashraful will too. but what matters in the aveerage. nafiz iqbal is also going to be great. he is not like many other bd batsman who came into the team over night. nafiz iqbal played for the u-17 and u-19 team. he played well in domestic league. played for the a-team before coming to the national team. he has cricket in his blood. i think he made a decent test debut eventhough he was out in a crucial time. akram khan's test highest was 44 and nafiz with one match score higher then that. he scored 49. only a run short of a half century. aftab also has u-17 and u-19 experience lets see how he does. alok should be dropped from the team as well as hannan sharkar. ashraful was doing through a bad time and he was dropped and he came back strongly. i think alok and hannan if they are dropped they can come back strongly too. bowling side taposh is our main bowler but if masrafee comes back he will take the responsibility. but with rafique in our bowling attack masrafee will have to wait be until rafique retires i believe that he will be our star bowler.

Originally posted by amit(a huge BD fan)
ashraful is going to be a star player in the future. he has lots of talent in him. also some of young bd batsman originally came into the team as a spinner. alok was another.

ashraful, also has lots of confidence in his batting and is not afraid to play his shots. i like his batting style and approach. ashraful is only going to get better with time.

Ahh you had to mention Alok. That guy is the biggest let-down. Even Khaled Mahmud is more useful than him.

Originally posted by Zephaniah
Play for your team (and country). Thats the most important thing, not your personal score.

Zeph.. I wana talk about a bit different idea.. see if u can agree to it.

IMO.. Test cricket is the base of the game of cricket and it is a very good phase and form of the game where a player gets to fully explore his abilities and weaknesses.. the main reason is that it's a type of game with a very long time frame(5 Days).

Sometimes I do get a feeling that Test cricket is the place for Personal improvements and Personal Achievements.. and the form of this game is such that Personal Achievements in this game turns into Team achievements!

Think about.. if a player can score a 100 (no matter how slow!) or take 5/6 wickets... its very effective for the player's career and confidence.. but again.. it's great for the team as well!!

The way our players r playing TESTS .. they are not only lowering the Team's levels.. but also destroying their own statistics and career!!

when I seeour team collaps... trust me..sometimes I do really ask myself "OK... maybe they are not doing anything for their country.. but why are they kicking away these valuable opportunity to improve their own career and credibility?!?"

Even if all our players play for themselves and start improving self-performances... that will giv BD much better level as a team than it is now...!

crickethorizon. Nothing to disagree with you. The underlying issue I was trying to shed some light upon was a rather strange term 'nervous 40s' ( BD batsmen invented it, not me!). Big personal hundreds would obviously help the team's cause like a big hundred partnership. But if you're too focused on your personal achivement when you're playing well (and you're a BD batsman), then you make yourself vulnerable to that syndrom -'nervous 40s'. Rajin saleh is the main culprit, along with most of the others including Nafees in the 2nd innings. On the other hand, I can remember Ash was quoted as saying "98 is better than 0" ( after missing 2nd test century!). I was just impressed with that mind-set.

The way our players r playing TESTS .. they are not only lowering the Team's levels.. but also destroying their own statistics and career!!

when I seeour team collaps... trust me..sometimes I do really ask myself "OK... maybe they are not doing anything for their country.. but why are they kicking away these valuable opportunity to improve their own career and credibility?!?"

Even if all our players play for themselves and start improving self-performances... that will giv BD much better level as a team than it is now...!

They are not destroying their own career!!
When some one secure his place in national team after scoring 40s or 50s, once in a often.
That means our team level is that standard and they seems happy to be there in the team. with their performance.
Otherwise how can someone do the same mistake over and over like our top order do?
Even Bashar, Ash, Nafees would be questionable, the way they fall after being settle in the game,
if it's not BD but other test team. So maybe because of our low level national team also prevent them
to perform as par their credibility.

I think that Ash has come of age and will continue to play like he did in the first test for many years to come. He will be better than Bashar by the end of his carreer. At the moment Bashar needs to help Ash and Ash will become a superstar.

Ash certainly is very gifted....All he needs to do is use his head & stay cool..( Which by the way he has been doing off late to an extent that is..Thank God!)....Chittagong is likely to be a batting paradise......So lets just pray to Allah that Ash gets a big one...

Originally posted by PoorFan
So maybe because of our low level national team also prevent them to perform as par their credibility.

well said Poorfan..
It probably has something to do with their temperemant or mindset.. or the way they think.

they are not used to think big yet..

Probably this is the reason Rafiq performs very high.. coz he doesn't bother with the surroundings.. and hence doesn't get affected by it.. he just plays his 'natural Game'... "Century marsi!"... or "5 wicket nisi.. valoi lagtese".. these are his mere reactions (very confident and positive approach i would say..which probably keeps him high)

Ashraful is showing signs of commitment and maturity in the last few matches... bravo to him!

Originally posted by PoorFan
So maybe because of our low level national team also prevent them to perform as par their credibility.

well said Poorfan..
It probably has something to do with their temperemant or mindset.. or the way they think.

they are not used to think big yet..

Probably this is the reason Rafiq performs very high.. coz he doesn't bother with the surroundings.. and hence doesn't get affected by it.. he just plays his 'natural Game'... "Century marsi!"... or "5 wicket nisi.. valoi lagtese".. these are his mere reactions (very confident and positive approach i would say..which probably keeps him high)

Ashraful is showing signs of commitment and maturity in the last few matches... bravo to him!

Wish him all the luck and everything in 2nd test..

temperamant is the key word! which our team lacks, rafiq certainly has it, so has mashud and ash is starting to show but temperamant is key thing that lacks through out BD, nafees showed it in the champions trophy, and even bashar makes silly and strikin shots, when it is not neccessary. I think a psychological coach would do us good, england had one last summer, did them no harm.